Buckling folding machine



March 18, 1952 F. J. ROUAN i-:TAL 2,589,436

BUCKLING FOLDING MACHINE Filed oct. 1s, 194s 5 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 18, 1952 F. J. ROUAN ET AL 2,589,436

BUCKLING FOLDING MACHINE Filedv oct. 1s, 1948 5 sheets-sheet 2 EWE-E"- March 18, 1952 F. J. ROUAN ETAL 2,589,436

BUCKLING 'FOLDING MAcHiNE Filed oct. 13; 1948 5 SheeLS-Sheet 5 ATTO R N EY March 18, 1952 F. J. ROUAN ETAL 2,589,436

BUCKLING FOLDING MACHINE Filed oet. 1s, 194s 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INV ORS QH mgm/Samy ugm ATTORNEY F. J. ROUAN ET AL BUCKLING FOLDING MACHINE March 18, 1952 S sheets-sheet 5 Filed 0G13. l5, 1948 F3@ l s Joie/552mm Patented Mar. 18, 1952 1William "Bach," Port Chester,"N. "Y., ass'ignors' to Pitney-Bowes, -Inc., Stamfor'df'Gonn., a-l corporationy ofDclaware Application October 13, 1948, SerialNo. 54,306

(Cl. 27m-618) v Claims. f 1

This invention relates to a sheet folding .ma-

` chine of the buckle chute type.

The machine disclosed 'is in a classjgenerally considered as a portable folding machine Ain that 'it can 'be easily moved from one "location `.to ,.anotheror stored away after use. vThe portable .typeofmachinelis usually operatedby gen- .eraloice or mail room employees, who are Vunskilled `in making careful machine adjustments, which are normally required, when Vsetting up folding machines now in use. When an operator fails ,to carefully set Yup a'folding machine, the resulting work is usually unsatisfactory.

The setting-up mechanism of the 'present `invention .has'been arranged so that unskilled "operators may quickly become familiar with the required setting adjustments, the elements of which are accessible at positions 'within convenient reach of the operator from the outside of the machine. A simple manual adjustment is .provided for the setting of sheet end stops which an operator can manipulate 'with the same ease as the adjustment of the dial of a home radio set.

The initial consideration therefore, in the development of the device of lthis invention, was ,to simplify 'the setting-up adjustments with particular emphasis placed on `the mechanism associated with the setting of the sheet end stops. Also included with the above vstop setting, is a secondary stop setting for the control of the A sheet in maintaining alignment of the folded side .edges of the sheet.

'One object of the' invention therefore, is -to provide for a simplified adjustment of a sheet end stop through manipulative means from a single point of .c ontrol.

It is also `an object to provide for .the adjustment of a sheet end stop by pivotal or Yrotary manipulative means.

.It is another object 'to include a graduated ,scale and movable pointer Vin vcombination with .the .sheet end stop adjustment elements, to `measure 'the adjustment.

-It is another object, to provide worm and gear .control mechanism for the adjustment of the Asheet end stops to thereby obtain the desired stop adjustment through rotary means, and to maintain the adjustment without `additional .locking means.

It is a further object to provide means for the adjustment of a sheet end Astop out of parallel- .ism with the .folding rollers for obtaining laccurate alignment of Ythe side edges of the folded sheet when 'the sheets are not cut accurately Square.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as .the description proceeds,

ithe invention resides in the combination and .arrangement -of .parts and 'in the details of 'construction hereinafter described and `claimed, it

tion

being 'understood vvthat various changeswin "the 3 precise "embodiment `of the invention hereinv disclosed maybe "madewith'inithe sc'opefof what `is claimed fwithout Adeparting from lthe v'spirit of the invention.

,A preferred embodiment of the invention vis villustrated nin rthe accompanying idrawings, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a side `vi'evwofthe folding machine with v'the frame structure and one 'side roller supporting plate Aremoved, and generally shows the r'sheet feeding, folding, sheet ren'd stop,

bucklechute and stacking mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan viewf'generally showing the mechanism of Fig. "1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged end vview withparts broken'away, fand taken in 'the direction i of 'the Figs. v4,*5 and 6 are operational -viewsl showing respectively, the beginningof afirstffolding'operation; the beginning of asecond folding operaand the combined second folding Vand stacker Yfeed operation;

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the'lines 1-1 of Fig. 1 and showing-one form of Vbearing-structure'for the support of three of the sheet folding rollers;

Fig. 8 is 'a detail View showing a drive from a driven folding roller to a sheet feed andstacker feed mechanism;

Fig. 9 isa :side elevational view showing an arrangement of gear drivenv folding rollers, and Vincludes a Amanual means Jof uadjustment for each of the folding `rollers which surround a `power driven roller;

stop mechanism i3, and folded sheetconveyor and stacker mechanism I4.

With regard to the present invention, the vdescription will be directed principally to the mechanism Vinvolving lsheet folding Aand the 'adjustment 'of the lmechanism related thereto'.

The folding roller mechanism #I2 4preferably "comprises 7a Apower driven roller it, van lupper roller 116, a lower roller 7Il and aside roliervi. Each of said Arollers 16,11 and i8 have shafts 16a, Ila and 18a respectively, `which `are yield- Aably supported 'in sui-table 'bearings l'b, Hb and I Bb respectively. The yieldability vof the bearings is provided by means of springs lite, Il'c and l8c mounted Ibetween the bearing portions lb, dl'band "|"8`b and 'adjustable elements? 21611,' iIld and I8d respectively. The elements 16d, 11d and I8d are suitably supported in lugs I9 which form a part of a folding roller support bracket 2 I, the bracket being supported by the main frame structure 29 of the machine, as best shown in Fig. 9.

The buckle chute structure I3 comprises outer and inner guide members 22 and 23 respectively, (Fig. 1) which are spaced apart to permit the sheet or folds of the sheet to pass therebetween. Each guide member comprises a plurality of strap elements which are horizontally spaced apart, as indicated at 24, Fig. 2, and are suitably joined together at their sheet receiving ends as indicated at 30 and 39a, Figs. 1 and 2. The said guide members 22 and 23 are arranged in an upper and lower parti-cylindrical formation, with two straight sheet receiving ends converging tangentially from the parti-cylindrical portions thereof, and forming a sheet receiving mouth 25 positioned in the path of one pair of folding rollers I and I6, and a sheet receiving mouth 26 positioned in the path of rollers I5 and I8. Said guide members 22 and 23 may be mounted in any convenient manner, such as indicated at three supporting points 21, 28 and 29, Fig. 1. The outer and inner guide members 22 and 23 are split as indicated at 3I, to facilitate removal.

A shaft 32, having its axis located at the axis of the parti-cylindrical portion of the guide members 22 and 23, is suitably supported by the frame structure of the machine, and provides a supporting and pivotal mounting for two sheet end stop units. One sheet end stop unit, which will be referred to as the first fold stop unit, comprises a supporting member 33, having side wing portions 35-35. Said wing portions Vare mounted on sleeve bearings 36-35, which bearings are supported by the shaft 32, as best shown in Fig. 3.

A stop element 31 for the first fold stop unit is mounted upon a shelf 38, projecting sidewardly from the supporting member 33, and has upwardly'extending fingers 39, which pass 4outwardly through the spaces 24, provided between the strap portions of the sheet guide members 22 and 23, as best shown in Fig. 2. Said stop element 31 is secured to the shelf 38 at its extreme ends by means of screws 4I-4I, and is adapted to be pivoted about one screw. An elongated slot 42 is provided in the stop element 31 for the shank of the other screw 4I to pass through. A finger 43 extends upwardly from the support 33 at one end thereof, and a finger 44 extends upwardly from the stop element 31. A screw 45, having a knurled head46, passes through a clearance opening in the finger 43 and engages a threaded opening in the finger 44. A spring 41 is also positioned over the screw 45 and is compressed between the fingers 43 and 44.V If the side edges of the first few folded sheets passing through the machine are not aligned, due to the sheets being cut slightly off square, adjustment of the screw 45 will effect slight skewing of the sheet stop fingers 39 and provide 'for the desired fold edge alignment.

A second fold stop unit is provided, which is the same in every respect as the first fold stop unit, except that the second unit is directly secured to the shaft 32. In order to simplify the description, all parts of the second fold stop unit which are the same as those of the first stop unit will be numbered the same as the first fold stop unit, but will include the exponent a to distinguish same. Y

Adjustment of the first fold stop unit is provided by means of a worm 48 and worm gear 49.

The worm gear 49 has a hub portion fixed to the sleeve 36, as best shown in Fig. 3, and the worm 48, which is in driving engagement therewith, is supported within bearings 5I-5I of a bearing block 52. By means of a knurled knob 53, which is fixed to a shaft extension of the worm 48, the said worm is adapted to be rotated, to thereby effect rotation of the worm gear 49 and adjustment of the iirst fold unit supporting member 33.

Adjustment of the second fold stop unit is provided by means of elements which are similar to those of the first stop unit, except that the worm gear is fixed directly to the shaft 32. Therefore, each of the parts used in the adjustment of the second fold stop will carry the same reference characters as those used in connection with the first fold stop but will have the exponent a added thereto to distinguish same.

Through either of said adjustments, the first and second fold stop units are adapted to be rocked about the axis of the shaft 32 to move their respective stop fingers 39 or 39a toward or away from the sheet feeding rollers to anyv desired stop position, and the worm gear structure will maintain such setting without the use of locking means. The knurled knob portions 53- 53a are adapted to extend sidewardly beyond the surface of a cover plate 54, as best indicated in Fig. 3, thus leaving a suiicient portion of each knob exposed beyond the plate to provide easy access for the operator in making the desired setting of either stop unit.

romters are also provided as indicated at 55 and 55a, Fig. l. The pointer 55, which is associated with the first fold adjustment mechanism, is secured to the Worm gear 49. The pointer 55a, which is associated with the second' fold adjustment mechanism, is secured to the worm gear 49a. As best indicated in Fig. 11, a graduated scale 56 is also provided on a plate 51 in the path of the pointer 55 and a scale 56a is provided thereon in the path of the pointer 55a. E'ach scale portion 56-56a is transparent, while the remainder of the. plate 51 is opaque. In this way the pointed ends of the pointers 55 and 55a are visible to the operator.

Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, where the operations are shown for performing a double fold in a sheet S, the first fold stop unit is shown in Fig. 4, and the second fold unit in Fig. 5. In the first folding operation, the forward edge of the sheet S is shown as having engaged the fingers 39 of the first stop unit in Fig. 4, thus causing a buckle to be effected in the sheet in the direction of the foldingrollers I5 and I8. From here the sheet is directed downwardly and through the lower buckle chute until the end ,of the first fold end engages the second fold stop fingers 39d. Again a buckle occurs, this time at the point of entry between the rollers I5 and I'I, which provide the final fold as the folded sheet is carried therethrough in the direction of the conveyor and stacker mechanism I4.

From suitable power drive means, the folding roller I5 is directly driven through a belt and pulley connection 59 and 6I respectively, as indiclutch is also provided between the shaft 64 and gear 63, which clutch comprises a coil spring 61 having one end engaging the gear 63 and the coils gripping the shaft 64. rI'he sheet is thereby adapted to be drawn through the folding rollers faster than it is fed by the separator feed roller 66. At the same end of the shaft 64 that supports the gear 63, a sprocket pinion 68 is secured, which pinion is joined with a sprocket gear S9 by means of a sprocket chain 1 I. The sprocket gear 69 is fixed to a shaft 'I2 which carries one end roller 13 of the stacker conveyor mechanism, generally indicated at I4, Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 9, adjustment mechanism is shown as associated with each of the sheet folding roller shafts |6a, lla and I8a for use when said shafts are provided with drive gears IEe, I'Ie and I 8e respectively, which gears mesh with a similar gear I5e on the driven shaft Ia. Adjustment of the roller shaft Ia is provided through a direct connection with a bearing portion 'I4 by means of a bracket 15, as best shown in Fig. 10. A screw rod 'I6 has a screw portion engaged with a threaded opening in said bracket 'I5 and extends vertically upward through the upper portion Ti of the machine frame 2Q. A knob 'I8 secured to the upper end of said screw rod provides a convenient means for eecting rotation of said rod and adjustment of the bearing 14.

A cam element 19, Fig. 9, is mounted so as to pivotally move around the shaft I5a, and has a cam surface 8 I, which bears against a bearing 82 on the end of shaft Ila. An arm 83, extending sidewardly from the cam element, has a screw rod 84 joined thereto, which rod extends vertically upward through the casing wall 'I1 and has a knob 85 screwed on a screw threaded portion 86. Adjustment of the knob 85 will thus effect movement of the cam element 19, and consequently adjust the position of the roller I1, relative to the roller I5, to the most suitable position for folding various Weights of paper.

Another cam element similar to the one just described is associated with the roller shaft IBa, and inasmuch as it is similar in every respect to that of the cam element just described, the same reference characters will be used with the exponent a added thereto to distinguish same.

While the latter description of the adjustments of the folding roller shafts I6, I1 and I8 is related to the view shown in Fig. 9, which illustrates the members at one end of the machine, it is to be understood that similar adjustments are provided at the opposite end of the machine.

Having described the invention what is claimed is:

l. In a sheet folding machine, the combination with a plurality of sheet folding rollers, of a buckle chute comprising upper and lower parti-cylindrical chute portions having a common axis, a straight chute portion extending from and tangential to each of said parti-cylindrical portions, said straight chute portions converging toward the discharge paths of predetermined pairs of folding rollers, and a sheet end stop element associated with each of said upper and lower chute portions, said stop elements being pivotally mounted for adjustment about the common axis.

2. In a sheet folding machine, the combination with a plurality of sheet folding rollers, of a buckle chute comprising upper and lower particylindrical chute portions having a common axis, a straight chute portion extending from and tangential to each of said parti-cylindrical portions,

said straight chute portions converging toward the discharge paths of predetermined pairs of folding rollers, a sheet end stop element associated with each of said upper and lower chute portions, said stop elements being pivotally mounted for adjustment about the common axis, and a manually controlled drive connected with each sheet end stop element.

3. In a sheet folding machine, the combination with a plurality of' sheet folding rollers, of a buckle chute comprising upper and lower particylindrical chute portions having a common axis, a straight chute portion extending from and tangential to each of said parti-cylindrical portions, said straight chute portions converging toward the discharge paths of predetermined pairs of folding rollers, a sheet end stop element associated with each of said upper and lower chutek portions, said stop elements being pivotally mounted for adjustmentabout the common axis, and a drive including a manually controlled worm driven gear connected with each sheet end stop element.

4. In a sheet folding machine, the combination with a pliuality of sheet folding rollers, of a buckle chute comprising upper and lowerparticylindrical chute portions having a common axis, each chute including outer and inner sheet guide members, a straight chute portion including outer and inner sheet guide members extending from and tangential to each of said outer and inner guide members of the parti-cylindrical portions, said straight chute portions converging toward the discharge paths of predetermined pairs of folding rollers, and a sheet end stop element associated with each of said upper and lower chute portions, said stop elements being pivotally mounted for adjustment about the common axis.

5. In a sheet folding machine including a supporting frame therefor, the combination with a plurality of sheet folding rollers, of a buckle chute comprising upper and lower parti-cylindrical chute portions having a common axis, a shaft supported 'by the frame with the axis thereof along the common axis of the chute portions, a straight chute portion extending from and tangential to each of said parti-cylindrical portions,

said straight chute portions converging toward the discharge paths of predetermined pairs of folding rollers, a sheet end stop element associated with each of said upper and lower chute portions and carried by the shaft, each stop element having a gear associated therewith, one gear being rotatable around the shaft and the other gear being rotatable with the shaft, and a manipulative worm drive for each gear, whereby the sheet end stops may be pivotally adjusted about the common axis relative to the folding rollers and are maintained in any adjusted position.

FRANCIS J. ROUAN. JOHN WILLIAM BACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nle of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,811,964 Pierson et al June 30, 1931 l 2,414,386 Olson Jan. 14, 1947 2,461,214 Helms Feb. 3, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 627,029 France Sept. 24, 1927 

